An octopus might be considered an alien on planet Earth because it has 3 hearts and 9 brains: one (1) centralized brain in its head and eight (8) decentralized brains in its tentacles. In all other species, the brain is a single organ (eg, Quora). Suppose that the Universe mirrors the octopus model and has centralised and decentralised consciousness.
While there is a lot of disagreement on how to define consciousness, there is a “widely agreed notion” on “the intuition that [consciousness] exists” (Wiki). Note: italic markings in quote by LO.
Consciousness seems to take place somewhere inside our brain, a bodily organ. The strength of our skull stresses the importance of our brain. Our brain’s neural network shows a remarkable similarity to Galaxy networks (Nautilus).
This similarity made me wonder if our brains have decentralised consciousness and are part of a central Universal consciousness. I suppose my thought is in line with panpsychism.
Decentralised consciousness may also be compared to distributed computing, a human concept. Wiki: “a field of computer science that studies distributed systems. A distributed system is a system whose components are located on different networked computers, which communicate and coordinate their actions by passing messages to one another.”
The above provides the only logical explanation (to me) why I experience (artistic) inspiration. I know that “my” inspiration comes to me like a signal that I receive through an antenna (eg, my brain). There is never a sender in the message that I’m receiving. I do have a choice whether I want to own that message or not. I suppose that wandering message is looking for an owner.
The author Elizabeth Gilbert (eg, Eat Pray Love) came to a similar conclusion in her highly recommended TED Talk: your elusive creative genius (transcript and video).
Engines need a (starting) key. According to ancient Sumerian beliefs and current Abrahamic religions, the breeze-in of the (divine) Soul is the key for starting our consciousness.
Cogito, ergo sum. I think, therefore I am. René Descartes (1596-1650).
Sum(m)er Breeze (1972) by Seals and Croft
artists, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2
Sum(m)er breeze makes me feel fine
Blowin’ through the jasmine in my mind
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless stated otherwise.
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